Clinton says Sudan policy still under review
July 31, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The US has yet to decide to lifting some of the sanctions imposed on Sudan, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today.
He also said that there is nothing that support the sponsor of terrorism designation for Sudan saying the latter assisted in nabbing key Al-Qaeda operatives.
Sudan lauded Gration’s statements expressing hope that Washington would take practical steps to lift sanctions and remove Sudan from list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
The committee chair Senator John Kerry appeared to support Gration’s support saying that after a visit he made to Khartoum last April he “came away convinced that we need to build a strategic framework that moves beyond simple oppositions like carrots versus sticks or the South versus Darfur”.
But Clinton said that no decision on sanctions have been taken.
“We have made no decision to lift the listing on the terrorist list of Sudan. As you know, there is a very intensive review going on within the Administration concerning our policy towards Sudan, but no decisions have been made,” she said in a joint press conference with Saudi foreign minister Saud Al-Faisal today.
The Washington reported that the long due Sudan policy review is being held up by disagreements within the US administration particularly between Gration and US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice.
The US Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley told reporters today that there is a legal process to get Sudan off the list of countries that sponsor terrorism though he acknowledged that Khartoum is cooperative on counterterrorism.
“There’s a set process in law and – but where we have been with Sudan, where we are with Sudan, where we want to go with Sudan is all incorporated into this review. And it is ongoing, and we expect this review to be completed. At that point, I think the President, the Secretary will lay out where we’re going to go with Sudan going forward,” Crowley said.
Some Sudan advocacy groups have expressed worry on the direction the Obama administration is taking.
John Norris, the executive director of the Enough Project, an anti-genocide advocacy group said the comments sent the wrong signal.
“I am sure his statements will be received with something akin to glee in Khartoum,” he told Associated Press.
“The Darfuris who I talk to are beside themselves with worry about these statements by Gration,” said Eric Cohen, the chair of the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur. “Time after time, he seems to be speaking the lines of the Sudanese government.”
Washington has also been grappling with how to deal with Khartoum over violence in Darfur, where UN estimates say up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes amid violence the United States has labeled genocide
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Sala Gai
Clinton says Sudan policy still under review
Big yes to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for saying that’s Sudan has not yet done any thing to be remove from the sanction,
The committee chair Senator John Kerry appear to support Gration’s support saying that after he visit, he made to Khartoum last April he “came away convinced that we need to build a strategic framework under the human right not under crisis in the country or the South & Darfur”.
Your support of Gration’s is under your failure in election with Gorage Bush but that you are very weak in metalic / lack of ideas
Aparana
Clinton says Sudan policy still under review
Darfur case is now a lucrative business is America. Those advocacy groups and Enough project are collecting alot of money in the name of Dafur, but most of this collections don’t reach Darfur.
Those who think that, their business will be affected are not happy with Scot Gration and senator John Carey’s move.
Aparana.
Dinka Aliap Chawul
Clinton says Sudan policy still under review
Mrs Rodham.Had got many problems to look after in US and overseas.So S.Sudanese dont remember the past difficult journey they went through then U.S should pays attention to other peace loving communities than the Southerners who tend their arms & hatred towards their own bloods.I hopes think go other way so that lessons are re-installs between south-north again because People had totally forgotten there well been a human being in southern sudan.
Akoon
Clinton says Sudan policy still under review
peopl like Scott Gration don’t even have sympathy about the death of innocent indigenous african in darfur. I don’t believe that Gration is backing up the Bashir’s regime, the regime of terrorism and genocide non democratic administration. And that’s why Al-Qaeda targeted US because there are some poeple in the US government who even support terrorists, people like Gration.